Carbon man facing theft, other counts

Nesquehoning police said Michael J. Macaluso, 42, of 65 W. Catawissa St., Nesquehoning, has been charged with two counts of the theft count and three of access device fraud.

According to police on Sept. 13 about 3:47 p.m. Officer Timothy Wuttke received a complaint from Anne-Marie Jupin, 64, of Nesquehoning, that her Mastercard had been used without her knowledge or consent. She was notified by her bank that the card was used at the Top Star service station for $20.07 gasoline purchase on Sept. 13. An attempt was made to use it twice on Sept. 13 at the Walmart store in Hale Township. Purchases of $413.30 and $206.70 were attempted but the transactions were refused by the store.

Wuttke made contact with Walmart security and the surveillance tape of the attempted transactions and the identification of the car used by the suspect led to Macaluso.

Macaluso was interviewed by Wuttke and he admitted using the card at the service station and then attempting first to purchase two Ipods at Walmart. When the first attempt failed, he made a second attempt to purchase one Ipod, but that was also rejected. He claimed he found the card at the service station, however, Jupin told the officer she last used the card on Sept. 13 at a restaurant in the borough.

Macaluso was arraigned on Wednesday, Nov. 14, before District Judge Casimir T. Kosciolek, of Lansford, and released on $2,500 unsecured bail. He was picked up on a felony warrant.